“Anytime you can come back from a fourth-quarter deficit … that’s good stuff,” Hartsfield said after East’s 69-61 win Friday against Northwood. “Anytime you can get a simulation of conference play, that’s good. That game had the intensity of a conference game.”

Northwood, falling to 2-3 under first-year Charger coach Donald Williams, had stumbled out of the gate at East, committing 12 turnovers and getting out-rebounded 21-7 in the first half.

Down 32-20 at halftime, the Chargers roared back with a 12-2 run to start the third period. Aumad Walker scored three straight baskets, including a 3-pointer, as Northwood pulled ahead 43-38 late in the quarter.

But Walker and Ti Pinnix both had to sit after picking up their fourth fouls early in the fourth quarter. With its top two scorers out, Northwood saw a 48-46 lead turn into a 57-48 hole.

East’s Justen Best scored 11 of his 18 points in the game’s last 7:04. He scored to spark a crucial 11-0 run that put the Wildcats ahead for good.

The ‘Cats hit five of their last six free throws to ice their fourth straight win.

The nonconference victory gives East Chapel Hill early season wins over area rivals Carrboro, Chapel Hill, Orange and Northwood.

Tykeem Woodard also had 18 points, and Jake Hilkey added 14 in his best game since joining the basketball team after his successful run as East Chapel Hill’s soccer goalie.

Pinnix had 18 points to lead Northwood, while Walker finished with 15 and Charles Hope 11.

Best also led East’s scoring in Tuesday’s 56-53 win against Orange, with 16 points. Sophomore Robert Wilson scored 10 of his 12 points in the second half to help the Wildcats rally from a 36-35 deficit late in the fourth quarter. Woodard chipped in 12 and Louis Levin 11 for East, which scored its last eight points at the free throw line to ice the win.

In Friday’s girls game, Gabby Mehringer scored 14 points to lead nine different scorers for Northwood (3-2) in its 56-40 win at East Chapel Hill. Adrienne Davis hit three 3-pointers on her way to a game-high 16 points for East (1-4). Sarah Towne added 13 points.

Carrboro above .500

Now that Carrboro high School filly has its 2012-13 boys basketball lineup set, head coach John Alcox is happy with who and what he has.

With the Jaguars’ football year finally done after making a run to the NCHSAA 2A state championship game, Carrboro added seven players from its 15-1 football team to its basketball roster: Gerald Atwater, Malik Carrington, Ezavian Dunn, Marlin Johnson, Alex McVeigh, James Scott and Trai Sharp.

Most of them scored Thursday night as Carrboro opened its Carolina-12 Conference schedule with a 70-36 blowout win at Franklin Academy. The Jaguars’ second straight win boosted their overall record to 2-1.

“At first I was really concerned with how we would play in our first game with a complete roster,” Alcox said. “It turned out I don’t have a lot to worry about.”

Veteran guard McLean Phipps led Carrboro’s scoring with 19 points, while Matt MacKinnon added 10. Scott had 13 points.

Led by Diamond Tyson’s 18 points off 7-for-8 shooting, the Carrboro girls improved to 3-0 Thursday with a 45-43 win at Franklin Academy.

Carrboro has a break before it’s next games: Dec. 18 at home with River Mill Academy.